Obituaries

REINSTEIN, Harold, 101

Died peacefully at Hebrew Senior Life in Roslindale (MA) on June 18, 2018.

Over the arc of a long and rich life that began in a Dorchester tenement, Harold’s hero was the great French chemist Louis Pasteur, and he knew from a young age that he, too, wanted to be a chemist.  (Among his first experiments, he loved to recall, was developing the perfect stink bomb as a young boy in Boston.)   As a teen, to help support his family during the depths of the Great Depression, Harold worked a variety of jobs. On weekdays, in the pre-dawn before school, he sold newspapers on Washington Street.   On evenings and weekends, he set pins at a downtown bowling alley. Throughout, his early interest in chemistry remained constant. Through hard work and determination, and despite difficult family circumstances, he launched his career, which was largely self-taught, as a laboratory technician right after high school.  He met his future wife, Sireen, also a lab technician, during this period. At the outbreak of WWII, he joined the Army, and was sent overseas to serve at a hospital laboratory in England, where he heard airplanes passing overhead, heading south on D-Day. Later that day, he helped attend to some of the first evacuated casualties.

Returning home, he married Sireen in 1947, and took a job as a clinical chemist with Boston Medical Laboratory where he spent his professional career, rising to Director before finally retiring in 1983.  (He often joked that, while he might have been a pretty good chemist, he was a lousy businessman: two separate inventions were later patented by larger, commercial laboratories.) In retirement, he went back to school to receive his bachelor’s degree. In 1987, he earned a master’s in gerontology from UMass Boston, after which he spent more than a decade advocating on behalf of the Bay State’s senior citizens.

Outside the lab (and even in it), Harold was as well-known for his keen wit and intellect as he was for his lifelong curiosity and his ever-present, irrepressible sense of humor.  He was passionate about progressive politics, photography, classical music, and above all, the outdoors. He took his family tent-camping every summer, from Cape Cod, to the White Mountains, to the Bay of Fundy

Harold was a sweet, patient, and generous person. He inspired kindness and humor in everyone he met.  He died less than three weeks after celebrating his 101st birthday, surrounded by his loving family. His warm, ready, signature smile will be deeply missed.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 47 years, Sireen (nee Rabinovitz), and is survived by his children Victor Reinstein, Ruth Reinstein Rogers, Ted Reinstein, and William Reinstein, as well as 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Funeral Service to be held at 1:00 PM on Tuesday, June 19 at Temple B’nai Israel, 1 Wave Avenue, Revere, Massachusetts. Shiva at the home of Bill and Marcia Reinstein, 15 White Oak Lane, Sudbury, MA from 7-9 pm on Tuesday and Wednesday. Shiva will continue at the home of Victor and Mieke, https://Neharshalom.org/shiva-information/. Contributions may be made in Harold’s name to: Hebrew Senior Life, and The Texas Civil Rights Project

Martin Roger Kress-of Needham,on  June 17, 2018.Services at Temple Beth Elohim,10 Bethel Rd.,Wellesley,on Thursday, June 21, 2018 at 10:30 am. Complete notice to follow.

Jankelle, Jennie (Shultz), formerly of the West End and later Dedham, passed away on June 16, 2018.
Beloved wife of the late Harry Jankelle. She is survived by her loving children, Alan Jankelle, Deborah Jankelle Salant and her husband David, and the late Michael Jankelle. She was loved and cherished by her four grandchildren, Jacob, Rebecca, Ilana and Max Salant. Dear sister of the late David and Morris Shultz and Rose Glickstein. Graveside service will be held at Agudath Israel Cemetery, 776 Baker Street, West Roxbury on Sunday, June 24, 2018 at 1:00 pm. Following the graveside service, a memorial service will be held at Newbridge on the Charles, 7000 Great Meadow Rd, Dedham at 2:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations in Jennie’s memory may be made to Honor Flight New England, PO Box 16287, Hooksett, NH 03106 – www.honorflightnewengland.com

Of Framingham, suddenly on June 16, 2018. Longtime companion of Mary Campbell. Devoted father of Wendy Issokson and her husband Alan and Kim Oskam and her husband JC. Loving grandfather of Leah, Amanda, Lexi, Lindsay, and Alex. Brother of Roger Gould. Service will be private. Donations in Bill’s memory may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, Box 758517, Topeka, KS, 66675 – woundedwarriorproject.org

RACHINS, Arlene (Tack) 88 years old, of Chestnut Hill and Florida, passed away peacefully on Friday, June 15, 2018, two years after the loss of her beloved husband of 62 years, Richard S. Rachins. She was a loyal, loving and nurturing daughter, sister, aunt, wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Beloved wife of Richard S. Rachins; Loving mother of Gerri Rachins Arnold and Nanci Sharon, and their husbands, Robert F. Arnold and Douglas Sharon; Cherished grandmother of Jeffrey Sharon and Carly Wimpfheimer, and her husband Chris Wimpfheimer; Cherished great grandmother of Chase Wimpfheimer; Cherished step grandmother of Lindsy B. Connolly, and Robert B. Arnold; Dear aunt of several nieces and nephews. Arlene was a multi-talented woman. She excelled at every endeavor that she undertook. She was a beautiful ice dancer, a professional figure skating teacher, sculptor, pianist, gardener, golfer, and bridge player. Earlier in her life she worked as a lab technician and physician’s assistant for many years. Arlene was a lover of life and people, and people loved her. She made friends wherever she went. She loved Nature, and particularly loved being near the ocean at Mashnee Island, Cape Cod. She had her beautiful dog, Gracie by her side since the loss of her loving husband. Services at Temple Israel, 477 Longwood Avenue, Boston, on Tuesday, June 19th at 11:00am. Interment to follow at Boston United Hand in Hand Cemetery, 2690 Centre St., West Roxbury. Memorial observance in celebration of her life, at the home of Gerri Rachins Arnold and Robert Arnold immediately following the burial. In lieu of flowers donations in memory of Arlene Tack Rachins may be made to Artists For Humanity https://afhboston.org/ or Women’s Lunch Place, Boston https://womenslunchplace.org/support-us/donate/

Israel, Alvin J., age 72, of Needham, on June 14, 2018. Beloved husband of Diane M. (Cohen) Israel with whom he shared 49 years of marriage. Devoted father of Jason Israel and his wife Marni of Holliston and Michelle Bistany and her husband Erik of Watertown. Cherished grandfather of Max, Sophie, and Sam Israel and Goldie Bistany. Loving brother of Bernice Rieders Sickle of Jupiter, FL. Dear uncle of William Rieders and Deborah Rieders. Services at the Sharon Memorial Park Chapel, 40 Dedham St., Sharon, on Monday, June 18, 2018 at 10:00 am. Following interment, memorial observance will be held at the home of Alvin & Diane Israel until 5 pm, and will continue on Monday from 7-9 pm and Tuesday 1-4 & 6-8 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Tippett Hospice Home in memory of Alvin Israel to support patient care at VNA Care, Fund Development, 199 Rosewood Drive, Suite 180, Danvers, MA 01923 or via www.vnacare.org. or to the Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center by visiting www.bidmc.org/giving or by check made payable to “Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center” and mailed to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Office of Development, 330 Brookline Ave (OV), Boston, MA 02215.

Philip S. Markell-of Wellesley, formerly of Brookline, on June 13, 2018. Beloved husband of Claudette. Devoted father of Mark Markell and Beverly Markell. Cherished grandfather of Zachary and Rachel Markell. Devoted brother of the late Eileen Reiss. Philip was the owner of the famous Elsie’s Deli in Harvard Square. The family will receive guests at The Golden Temple Restaurant,1651 Beacon St., Brookline, on Friday, June 15^th from 2:30-5:30 pm. In lieu of flowers remembrances may be made to The West End House, 105 Allston St., Allston, MA 02134. Army veteran of the Korean War.

Caplan, Irving M., age 89, of West Palm Beach, FL and Chestnut Hill, MA, on June 11, 2018. Cherished husband for 55 years of Harriett (Greenberg) Caplan. Beloved father of Felice Caplan and Marc Caplan. Brother of the late Leonard Caplan and Burton Caplan. Services at the Sharon Memorial Park Chapel, 40 Dedham St., Sharon, on Thursday, June 14, 2018 at 10:00 am. Following interment, memorial observance will be held at the Greenbrook Clubhouse, 400 Island St.,Stoughton, from 1-4 & 6-9 pm and will continue on Friday from 11am-2pm. In lieu of flowers,donations in Irving’s memory may be made to Make-A-Wish Foundation, One Bulfinch Place,Boston, MA 02114, www.wish.org.

Douglas A. “Doug” Pennington, Jr., age 51, of East Bridgewater, died unexpectedly on June 9, 2018. He was the beloved husband of Ellen K. (Bayne) Pennington, Chair of the East Bridgewater School Committee and with whom he shared 19 years of marriage.

Born in New Brunswick, NJ, he was the son of the late Douglas A. Pennington, Sr. and Ellen L. (Stewart) Pennington. Doug was employed by the Healthedge Company of Burlington where he was a Senior Software Quality Assurance Engineer. A dedicated family man, Doug’s care of the home and children enabled Ellen to be a very involved community activist. He will be always remembered as a very patient man who had a great sense of humor. Doug’s enjoyments included spending time with his family, reading, watching movies, comics, and Sci-Fi.

In addition to Ellen, Doug is survived by his cherished children Beth (14), Olivia (12), and Benjamin (11); his brother, Arthur; his chosen family, The Beck’s; as well as many loving cousins and extended family members. Doug will be missed by his faithful dog, Teddie.

Calling hours at the Russell & Pica Funeral Home, 441 South Main St., (Rt. 28) West Bridgewater on Wednesday, June 13, 2018 from 4:00-6:00 PM, followed by a funeral service at 6:00 PM.

Jack Gerber-of Needham, on June 7, 2018. Beloved husband of Bette Ann (Barenholtz) Gerber. Devoted father of Neal Gerber and his wife Gina, Jill Appell and her late husband Marc, and Dana Gerber. Dear grandfather of Sara Berenberg, Benjamin Dip-Gerber and Cara Avedissian and the late Jesse Appell. Loving great-grandfather of Jaxon Michael Dip. Dear brother of Burt Gerber and his wife Marcia and brother-in-law of Barbara Gerber. Services at the Sharon Memorial Park Chapel, 40 Dedham St., Sharon, on Sunday, June 10, 2018 at 12:00 noon. Following interment, memorial observance will be at his residence until 6:oo pm and will continue on Monday 6-8 pm. In lieu of flowers remembrances may be made to The American Heart Association, 300 5^th Ave., Waltham, MA  02451.